Events Calendar

Our Culture: Farms / Produce

Barfield’s Country Store

1738 US 231
Customers have a unique opportunity to travel back in time and can’t resist the old-fashioned country store atmosphere offering local-sourced fresh fruits and produce, jams, peanuts, souvenirs, candy, cold sodas, toys, souvenirs, and beach supplies. The store is open 7 days a week.

Cypress Cattle Farmers Market

Situated on US 331 in Freeport, this roadside market features fresh local-sourced produce from the Langford family-owned Cypress Cattle Company as well as produce from other growers throughout the state and region. Participating in the Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association, Cypress offers the freshest products available in season, including tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, collards, rutabaga, turnips, broccoli, squash, green beans, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn, okra, and field peas. They also carry a full line of ranch-raised beef, both grass-and grain-fed, a full line of dairy, cheese, and butter as well as canned goods from Amish Country. For more information, please visit www.cypresscattle.com.

Davis Shade Tobacco Curing Barn & Produce Market

In 1828, Governor William P. Duval introduced Cuban tobacco to the territory of Florida. The following year, Virginia and Cuban tobacco seeds were blended in Quincy and renamed the “Florida Wrapper.” As a result, the culture of shade-grown cigar wrapper tobacco became a dominant factor in the social and economic development of Gadsden County. The Davis Shade Tobacco Barn, located seven miles west of Quincy on SR 65, dates from 1942. Stop by their produce stand next door to see their impromptu “Shade Tobacco Museum” of photos, artifacts, and literature.

Green Gate Olive Grove U-Pick

Planted in 1999, Don Mueller’s olive grove is the first meaningful producer of olives and olive oil from its own trees in Florida. He produces table olives and olive oil the old-fashioned way. Many varieties of olives are planted with long vernalization periods, to enable the trees to remain dormant during spring cold snaps. The Green Gate Olive Grove has three fully mature varieties of olives and approximately 400 trees. Harvests have always been a fun time for those who U-Pick. Call in advance (850-596-4963) to assure access. Visit us at www.greengateolivegrove.com.

Hammack Farms Corn Maze

2387 Joe White Road
Open October 10 – November 9 from 5 – 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. for corn maze fun and fall treats. Hammack Farms is owned and operated by Ryan and Aimee Hammack, who recently took over the 52-acre planted pine forest and converted the land. Ryan, a third generation farmer, also farms 400 acres of row crops and cattle. 5.3 acres is now a corn maze for everyone to enjoy. The Farm also has a pumpkin patch with a variety of assorted sizes and colors that children can purchase and decorate, a mini hay bale maze, corn box for kids 7 and under, a tractor train for smaller children, hay ride, farm animal zoo, and a playground.

Leonard’s Landing

This waterside pull-off features an interpretive display on the aquaculture practices being used at this location for clam and oyster harvests. It also has a sand launch for small boats and kayaks and access to miles of coastline for sunning and fishing.

Main Street Market

Owner Paul Davidson of Davidson Farms was recognized as the Washington County Agriculture Innovator of the Year by the University of Florida IFAS Extension and Farm Credit of Northwest Florida. Davidson began his farming operation in 1988 and in 2008 opened the Main Street Market to offer an outlet for his produce as well as that grown by other local farmers. Always stocked with what’s fresh, the market also has an outstanding collection of jams, relishes, and frozen goods, including a broad selection of unusual flavors of ice cream from Southern Craft Creamery, featuring fresh local ingredients. For more information, please visit www.chipleymarket.com.

Ocheesee Creamery

A small, three-generation dairy and creamery with a storefront, farm, and bottling tours. This is the only dairy in the state that makes its own butter. The Creamery is bringing back the healthy goodness of whole milk and other dairy products. Step back to a time when cows grazed on pasture land to get all of the benefits of fresh air, sunlight, and fresh green grass. Studies show that cows with a primary diet of fresh grass produce milk with five times more unsaturated fat than cows fed processed grains. Be sure to stop in the store and purchase some of their fabulous ice cream, milk, and other products.

Red Bay Grocery

8704 SR 81
The Red Bay Grocery has been in operation since 1936 under 28 different owners. It closed in 2008 and left the community without a gathering spot. As a result, folks had to drive 20 miles to get provisions. In 2009 some 50 community partners brought the store back to life and rebuilt it again after a devastating fire in 2011. Operated like a cooperative, the partners grow the produce, cut fresh flowers, bake cookies, cakes, and pies, take care of the carpentry, plumbing, and electrical needs and even handle legal issues. But mainly, over coffee and biscuits, the partners of Red Bay Grocery provide stories and daily updates of the goings on in this small town. The shelves are full of local products like honey, jams, jellies, pickled goods, and sauces. Breakfasts and homemade ice cream are extremely popular. Lunch and dinner are also served on the weekend. For more information, please visit www.redbaygrocery.com.

Historic Rocky Comfort Farms

Nestled in scenic rolling countryside, this farm offers visitors an opportunity to reconnect and experience a way of life that communes with nature and the land. This 230-acre farm hosts some major public events, including a Fall Fun Festival and Christmas Tunnel of Lights. Attractions include a pumpkin patch, millet maze, wagon rides, blacksmith shop, dairy barn, playground, hayrides, corn bin, nature trails, and farm animals such as donkeys, cows, and free-roaming peacocks. Don’t miss the Gift Shop, filled with charming country gifts, their fresh honey, work of local craftsmen, and many other great gift ideas. Please visit www.rockycomfortfarms.com for more information.

Three Oaks Winery

3348 SR 79
This family winery produces some of the finest wines in the Southeast. Owned and operated by the Biddle family, Three Oaks Winery uses its own line of grapes, including Conquistador and Muscadine, to produce smooth, refreshing low-alcohol wine aged to the proper fermentation and bottled at the peak of flavor. All of their products are Florida wines and their Port is ranked #1 in Florida. Visitors to the winery may enjoy free wine tasting and tours, as well as a nicely stocked gift shop. For more information, please visit www.threeoakswinery.com.